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W. C. STILES.

Gold Separator.

Patented N0 v. 12, 1867.

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IMPROVED GOLD-'SEPARATOR.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that LWILLIAM O. STILES, of Nevada City, in the county of Nevada, and State of California, have invented a new and improved Gold-Separator; and I do hereby declare the following to he a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through the centre of my invention, and

- Figure 2 is a top view of the same.

This invention is an improved instrument for panning orseparating gold from earth. It consists of an inclined vibrating table, having aseries of openings, screens, and counter-inclines arranged along its surface, and operating in connection with gentle streams of water fed to it from difl'erent points above it.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

In the drawings, A represents the supporting-frame ofmy machine, from the upper beams of which is suspended an inclined table, T, which is vibrated back and forth longitudinally by means of a cam-shaft, C, operating in one direction, and a spring or weight, S, operating in the opposite direction. The end shown at E is elevated higher than the other end, either by adjustment in the frame or by the position of the latter, and is provided with an upright wall, t, to prevent the escape of any of the contents of the table in that direction.

The earth which is to be panned is placed on the table at this end, and by the vibration of the table and-the action of light rills or drippings of water, flowing upon it from foraminated vessels to w'above, is separated, the gold and sulphurets passing 011" at the end E, and the earth and sand being washed hack and carried'ofi' through openings 0 o in the bottom of the table. As the mass of gold-bearing earth or sand works its way along the table, the gold and sulphurets, from their greater gravity, sink to the bottom of the mass, and the earth and sand become the upper strata.v The mass 'thus disposed soon encounters an inclined ledge, Z, the inclination of which is opposite to that of the table. Over this ledge the heavy sulphurets and gold easily pass, their inertia causing them to remain motionless while the table is slid back from under them by the abrupt jerking vibrations communicated to it by the sharp strokes of the cam G. The lightness of the upper strata, however, causes them to offer less resistance to the motion of the table, and the'drippings of water which fall upon them, directly over the ledges H, as shown in the drawings, wash these light particles back towards the end E of the table, where they fall into the openings 0 o, and drop through the table. Angular screens 3 s prevent the earth, sand, gold, and sulphurets from falling into the openings'as the mass moves down the table, rendering it possible only for those particles which are washed back to escape in that manner. Ledges may be placed across the open ends of the screens to prevent any particles of gold or sulphnret from working into the openings. Several series of openings 0 o and ledges llmay be arranged along the table at different points, and in any relative order or position that may be deemed best. I

The operation of all these united influences is to thoroughly separate the gold and sulphurets'froin the sand and dirt, the former passing 05 from the table at E into receivers, and'the latter being washed through the openings '0 o. The machine saves'a vast amount of labor and time, separating the metals from the sand very rapidly and continuously, and producing more gold from the same quantity of earth than can the obtained by any other process of panning or washing.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. The arrangement of the openings 0 a, protected by screens 3 s andledgcs it, upon an inclined vibrating table, T, having a series of'transversc ledges Z Z, for the purpose of separating the gold dust from dirt, substan-' tially in the manner described.

2. The combination and arrangement of a series of foraminated water-troughs, w to, with an inclined vibrating table, T, having openings 0 0 and ledges Z Z,-substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

I WM. C. STILES.

Witnesses:

JAMES H. GRID EY, NATHAN K. ELLSWORTH. 

